Dreidens WWII Fighter Pilot Room
Jennifer and Andre Runnels are parents to a lovely family of three boys. Their youngest son, 7 year old Dreiden, was the recipient of our 73rd makeover! Dreiden is a delightful little boy that loves video games, playing with his two older brothers, and learning about The Tuskegee Airmen.
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African-American military pilots (fighter and bomber) who fought in World War II. Formally, they formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces.
Dreiden was nominated for a Sweet Dream Room makeover from his team at Crimson Speech Therapy. They shared a lot about the family, the challenging time they were having and how a room of his own - full of things Dreiden cared about - would make his life so much better.
Enter Project Lead, Suzy. At first glance, this room seemed like more of a challenge. You can't go to the mall and just grab anything for a Tuskegee themed room! But lucky for us, Suzy is a resourceful and dedicated board member and volunteer! She rose to the challenge and made magic happen for Dreiden. Her husband happens to know the last living Tuskegee Airman, Bob Friend, from one of the class years! They met up with his daughter and got Bob to personally sign a book and picture!
Do you think this made Dreiden smile? The answer is YES! Dreiden was so excited - along with the rest of his supportive family. Grandparents were on hand for the reveal and everyone loved the finished product! A room makeover is a success if a child can't wait to sleep in their own bed. For Dreiden, sleeping alone is not his favorite thing but he couldn't wait to be in his own room! Mission accomplished!
Dreiden deserves to smile and rest in a room that makes him feel very special. He's had a challenging time lately and this room will provide him a source of comfort. The team worked hard to incorporate elements that make him happy, music, comfy bedding and lots of Tukegee Airmen stuff!
Dreiden has Autism. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 68 American children as on the autism spectrum–a ten-fold increase in prevalence in 40 years. Careful research shows that this increase is only partly explained by improved diagnosis and awareness. Studies also show that autism is four to five times more common among boys than girls. An estimated 1 out of 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States.
Thank you to our volunteers Kat, Michelle, Ariana and Carlos for devoting their weekend to helping complete this special room. Thank you to Project Lead Suzy for making this room come to life. Thank you to our donors, The Rancho Santa Fe Women's Fund, and all of our local business sponsors for combining to help make our 73rd room makeover possible!
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African-American military pilots (fighter and bomber) who fought in World War II. Formally, they formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces.
Dreiden was nominated for a Sweet Dream Room makeover from his team at Crimson Speech Therapy. They shared a lot about the family, the challenging time they were having and how a room of his own - full of things Dreiden cared about - would make his life so much better.
Enter Project Lead, Suzy. At first glance, this room seemed like more of a challenge. You can't go to the mall and just grab anything for a Tuskegee themed room! But lucky for us, Suzy is a resourceful and dedicated board member and volunteer! She rose to the challenge and made magic happen for Dreiden. Her husband happens to know the last living Tuskegee Airman, Bob Friend, from one of the class years! They met up with his daughter and got Bob to personally sign a book and picture!
Do you think this made Dreiden smile? The answer is YES! Dreiden was so excited - along with the rest of his supportive family. Grandparents were on hand for the reveal and everyone loved the finished product! A room makeover is a success if a child can't wait to sleep in their own bed. For Dreiden, sleeping alone is not his favorite thing but he couldn't wait to be in his own room! Mission accomplished!
Dreiden deserves to smile and rest in a room that makes him feel very special. He's had a challenging time lately and this room will provide him a source of comfort. The team worked hard to incorporate elements that make him happy, music, comfy bedding and lots of Tukegee Airmen stuff!
Dreiden has Autism. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 68 American children as on the autism spectrum–a ten-fold increase in prevalence in 40 years. Careful research shows that this increase is only partly explained by improved diagnosis and awareness. Studies also show that autism is four to five times more common among boys than girls. An estimated 1 out of 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States.
Thank you to our volunteers Kat, Michelle, Ariana and Carlos for devoting their weekend to helping complete this special room. Thank you to Project Lead Suzy for making this room come to life. Thank you to our donors, The Rancho Santa Fe Women's Fund, and all of our local business sponsors for combining to help make our 73rd room makeover possible!
